(Springfield-jm) – A judge said Friday that he'll allow a professor to testify about Chicago's political machine at former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's upcoming corruption trial. Madigan's defense team had asked Judge John Robert Blakey to keep University of Illinois Chicago professor Dick Simpson from taking the stand in front of a jury. They said Simpson's testimony would be "unreliable, irrelevant, and highly prejudicial." The judge disagreed and will allow Simpson to testify, but he set boundaries for that testimony at trial. Prosecutors want to call Simpson to the stand to explain how Chicago politics and government work. That includes the workings of Ward organizations, Chicago's political machine and patronage hiring. The judge essentially agreed with the prosecutors.
(Washington-jm) – National Farm Safety and Health Week features the theme of don't learn safety by accident, but the emphasis should be what is in parenthesis within the theme title. Rod Bain reports...
(Urbana-jm) – The contract for building service workers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was not approved. SEIU announced in a Friday afternoon release that more than 760 Food Service and Building Service Workers voted against the latest contract proposal. The union and university have been negotiating for eight months. The union can strike as soon as later this month, but union officials said they hope to continue negotiations for an "equitable agreement".
(Paxton–jc) The city of Paxton is set to use some of its motor fuel tax dollars for street upgrades. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says around 200 thousand dollars of upgrades will start this month...
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign County–dm)-An East St. Louis man is being charged for shooting at a semi-truck driver on Interstate 57. According to WCIA, Champaign County State's Attorney, 40 year old LeJoshua Smith will be charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Illinois State Police said Smith was driving northbound when he passed a semi and then slowed down after passing which led to the semi hitting the car's bumper. Smith said that he became enraged and fired eight shots with a handgun.
(Rantoul–jc) Several Rantoul businesses were tapped as favorites in the Champaign based News Gazette. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says it shows the positive experiences for shoppers coming to Rantoul...
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Springfield-jm) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proclaimed this week as Farm Safety and Health Week in Illinois with a theme of "Don't Learn Safety by Accident." This year marks the 80th year for the annual observance nationwide. In recognition of Farm Safety and Health Week, the Illinois Department of Agriculture partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Labor to encourage farmers and farm workers to follow safety precautions during the upcoming fall harvest season. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the agriculture sector is the most dangerous in America, with more than 500 fatalities annually.
(Washington-jm) – The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture provided details from this weekend's G20 Agricultural Ministerial in a call from Brazil with reporters. Rod Bain reports...
(Decatur-jm) – The EPA says ADM has violated its Class VI underground injection well facility permit by not complying with Federal regulations and the terms of its permit. The agency says it is investigating a carbon dioxide leak. ADM takes CO2 produced at its facilities, compresses it into a liquid, and injects it around a mile underground so it is not released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. This process is called carbon sequestration, or carbon capture storage. The EPA said in a statement that it is working with ADM to ensure there are no additional leaks. However, agency officials do not believe any drinking water is threatened right now.
(Watseka–dm)-The Iroquois Economic Development Association has been working with potential new business' as well as existing business since 1970. IEDA Executive Director Angel Crawford tells us about two new companies opening in the near future.
Iroquois County Economic Association Executive Director Angel Crawford.
(Hoopeston-m) – Good news in Hoopeston --- The Lorraine Theatre Restoration Project stands to gain from a Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. Hoopeston is one of 25 Hometown Grant recipients. Funding totaling $40,667 from T-Mobile will go toward completing the Lorraine Theatre restoration project – led by a group of citizens wanting to bring back the 100-year-old theater. The grant money will be used to purchase needed equipment to bring back "First Run" movie screenings, providing a variety of affordable entertainment to a community that couldn't experience otherwise. The project was submitted by Save the Lorraine Foundation, an organization aimed to preserve and renovate the historic downtown theater. "The Lorraine Foundation was formed by a group of citizens simply wanting to preserve our local landmark, the Lorraine Theatre."
(Paxton–dm)-It's that time of year again when you start thinking about closing your swimming pool for the winter. Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has some tips on draining your pool.
Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen. You can hear more from Scott on Saturday Mornings at 7:30 on Scott's Tips for Success
WPXN News Notes...
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, September 19th from 9-9:30 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City Community Center, 12:30-1 at Runnings in Watseka and from 1:30-2 at Milford Town and Country.
A Family Caregiver Support Group will take place on Thursday, September 19th from 1:30-2:30 at the Watseka Public Library.
